Examination | Abdominal exam while sitting …

Views: 1645 Created: 2011.04.29

First post

I always thought a doctor could only do a real, thorough abdominal exam with the patient lying on his or her back, but in an earlier post I remembered a time when I was younger and a doctor palpated my abdomen while I was sitting up.

This happened to me twice after that. Once during a routine physical, the doctor had me lift my shirt up while I was sitting and did a fairly complete exam of my belly, including auscultation. Then, during a gynecologist appointment, the table was positioned so I was sitting upright for the breast exam, and the doctor pulled back the sheet to tap around my tummy without moving the table.

Has anyone else ever experienced this, or know any reason for it? Were they just trying to get it over with quickly? Strangely, male doctors always ask me to lie down for that part of the exam, even if they have me sit up for the rest of it.

I think it'd be really exciting to be forced to sit up completely naked while my chest and belly were examined, first with a stethoscope and then with gloved hands, but I don't think that's too likely to ever happen!

n/a

The only times I've had an abdominal exam sitting was in really quick, cursory exams. It doesn't really matter much for auscultation I guess, but I cannot imagine such an exam could yield much information on palpation, except maybe very obvious tenderness. Laying down is definitely the standard to be able to feel structures and assess organs.

charlie59horse

All of my abdominal exams have been conducted with me lying down on the exam table. On two occasions, I was asked to slightly flex my legs during the examination. Auscultation of my stomach is a great turn on for me ... my hairy torso fully exposed as the doctor works his way down to my femoral arteries!

exam doc

Yes, I had an abdominal exam sitting up during one physical--for employment, I believe. This was one of the most cursory exams I have ever received. The doctor did not have me take off any clothing. He had me unbutton my dress shirt all the way. So I pulled the shirt tails out of my slacks and unbuttoned it completely. I sat on the edge of the table and he listed with his stethoscope over my chest and back. Then he moved the stethoscope down over my abdomen and listened very briefly. Interestingly, as cursory as this exam proved to be, the doctor did take the time to have me slip down my pants and briefs for the most embarrassing part. He told me to stand down off the table and drop my pants and shorts. There was a level of awkwardness to this since I had to open my belt and unhook and unzip my trousers before sliding the pants and briefs down below my scrotum. He then told me to lift my shirt so he could get a good look. He just looked at the genitalia without any palpation and he even did the hernia exam without touching. He just watched as I coughed for him.

JakeNewYork

I remember one very brief check up for little league, my brother and I were seated side by side on the table the whole time and the doctor pushed around on our abdomens while seated. Didn't have us lie down at all.

Lv2examn

Never. I’m always laying on my back for the abdominal exam.

docm1030

I have always been lying down for the abdominal exam. I have never been sitting up for it.

n/a

I cannot even visualise an abdominal exam in sitting position. All the tummy exams I have had have been with me lying on my back. I cannot understand how good the doctor would be able to palpate in sitting position.

FleetestFox

I feel that this is like trying to install Windows on a Mac. xD

In all seriousness, I can't imagine you'd get a very accurate assessment out of a standing abdominal exam.

scotty95

For my abdominal exam I've always been lying on my back, never sat up. Visual inspection first, then percussion, palpation and finally being auscultated.

Briefly during the palpation I'm asked to roll onto my side so they can palpate the sides of my tummy but that's it

scotty95

Interestingly, as cursory as this exam proved to be, the doctor did take the time to have me slip down my pants and briefs for the most embarrassing part. He told me to stand down off the table and drop my pants and shorts. There was a level of awkwardness to this since I had to open my belt and unhook and unzip my trousers before sliding the pants and briefs down below my scrotum. He then told me to lift my shirt so he could get a good look. He just looked at the genitalia without any palpation and he even did the hernia exam without touching. He just watched as I coughed for him.

Just noticed this bit and it did make me laugh. How the heck can a doctor carry out a genital exam without actually touching and feeling in that area? Even worse carrying out a so called hernia exam without feeling while you cough? Did he just try and watch to see how your balls moved to guess if you had a hernia? You wonder which med school some of them went to.